Switch for a fluid operated device



Aug. 8, 1939. H, c -n 2,168,473

SWITCH FOR A FLUID OPERATEDDEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 2, 1957 llf I I .f I :"IIZ' I I l I 111" Inventor lewzlsH Chiba Afforneys Aug. 8, 1939.

L. H. CUTTING 2,168,473

SWITCH FOR A FLUID OPERATED DEVICE Filed July 2, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 lnvenfor 'lewzslf f fi By 2mm g- 8, 1.. H. CUTTING 2,168,473

SWITCH FOR A FLUID OPERATED DEVICE 7 3 2 LIE 4 V/ I ss /1a 9, 29 9 3 g A? f4 17/ /6 7 I Inventor .4iiorneys Patented Aug. 8, 1939 UNITED STATES .PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a switch for a fluid driven device of a distance registering mechanism for ships, and has for the primary object the provision of a switch which is easily mountable and consists of a minimum number of parts and is so constructed as not to be affected by water.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device or apparatus of the character mentioned which shall overcome the difficulties that are at present experienced with ships logs hitherto in use for this purpose.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein- Figure l is an elevational view illustrating the application of the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an elevational view of a gear assembly,

Figure 5 is a detail view showing the manner of retaining a cable against the side of the vessel with which the device is used.

Figure 6 is an elevational view of a carriage.

Figure '7 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 1-! of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is an elevational view of a registering device.

Figure 9 is a side elevational view of a registering device with parts broken away to illustrate certain details hereinafter more fully referred to.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals it will be seen that in the preferred embodiment thereof the invention includes a register 5 of any suitable construction for registering the total distance run by the ship or vessel during the time the apparatus is in use. Preferably the register 5 approximates in construction that of a usual and well-known type of speedometer for automobiles, and consists, as illustrated, of a suitable casing having a sight window, and in which casing are mounted a plurality of number-disks so provided that upon the completion of one full revolution of one disk the next succeeding disk is brought into operation for totalizing purposes, it being understood however that in the present instance the registering device will be so as to register the distance travelled in terms of knots instead of miles as in the case of an automobile speedometer.

Further in accordance with the present invention the shaft 6 on which the number-disks l of the register are mounted is equipped with a ratchet wheel 8 and said shaft is normally urged to rotate in a clock-wise direction through the medium of an electric magnet IQ of the reciprocating armatured type, and the armature of the magnet is provided with a dog H of resilient material made integral with or otherwise fixedly secured to one end of the armature of the mag net. Dog ll cooperates with the ratchet wheel 8 for rotating the shaft for a fraction of a revolution each time the magnet H1 is energized, the armature being returned to its inactive position by a spring 9.

Further there is suitably mounted on the side of the vessel If a portion of which is fragmentarily shown in Figure l, and extending downwardly along the side of the vessel a pair of opposed rails l2. Movable along the rails 12 is a carriage I3 that on one side thereof is equipped with rollers I4 that ride the rails I2 as shown in Figure 2 wherein it will be seen that the rails l2 are of channel-iron and accommodate in the channels thereof the rollers I4.

Suitably mounted on the carriage I3 is a substantially U-shaped bracket l5 including a bight portion and parallel arms arranged at right angles thereto. The bight portion has an opening adjacent one of the arms to receive a switch 24 which parallels the latter-named arm. J ournaled in the arms of the bracket I5 is a shaft l6 on which is mounted for rotation therewith a rotor or propeller I! and a worm l8.

Housing the Worm-equipped end of the shaft I6 and suitably mounted on the bracket [5 is a gear case IS in which are suitably Journaled shafts 20, 2|.

On the shaft is a worm wheel 22 that is in constant mesh with the worm l8 and shafts 20, and 2| are connected together through the medium of gearing 23.

Also in accordance with the present invention there is provided an electric switch indicated generally by the reference numeral 24 and the same includes a spring contact element 25 that is connected in circuit with the electro-magnet I0 through the medium of a Wire 26 that extends through a flexible sheathing 21, said wire being connected with a suitable source of current,

The switch 24 further includes a cylindrical housing 28 that has threaded on one end thereof a cap 29 that is accommodated within a suitable opening provided therefor in a wall of the gear case [9. The housing 28 is provided with a chamber 30 in which is snugly fitted a cylindrical insulator 3|. Insulator 3| is provided with an axial recess 32 in which is located the spring contact element 25. Anchored in one end of the insulator 3| is one end of the sheathing 2'! as shown in Figure '7.

Also threaded on a second end of the casing 28 is a cap 33 that is provided with an integral threaded extension 34 axially bored to accommodate one end of the sheathing 2?. The extension 34 extends through a portion of the bracket [5, and said portion of the bracket is clamped between the cap 33 and a nut 35 threaded on the stem 34. On the other end thereof the stem 34 is provided with a suitable gland structure in dicated generally by the reference numeral 36 and includes a packing cap threaded on the extension 34.

The switch casing 28 is also provided adjacent one end thereof with a partition 37 having an opening 38 therethrough to accommodate a contact plunger 39. Also to accommodate the contact plunger 39 cap 29 is provided with an opening 40, and at one side of the partition and confined between the partition and cap 29 is a spring 4|. Spring 4! is suitably connected with the plunger 39 for normally urging the same outwardly with respect to the casing and out of engagement with the switch contact 25. The plunger 39, when engaged with the contacts, acts as a ground therefor through the casing 28 and hull of the ship. The partition 37 divides the casing 28 into a pair of chambers, one of which receives the contact 25 and the other chamber receives the spring 4|, and the plunger 49. The cap 33 holds the insulator 3| seated against the partition 31.

Also through the medium of spring 4| the outer end of the contact plunger 39 is held in engagement with a lever 42 providedon a shaft 43 suitably journaled in the gear case 19 and having a free end portion engaging the'periphery of a cam- 44 fixed on shaft 2| as will be clear from a study of Figures 3 and 4.

It will thus be seen that as shaft 2 I, driven from shaft 20 revolves, the nub of the cam 44, once for each complete revolution of the cam, engages the lever 42 causing the latter to swing in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Figure 3) and thus urge the contact plunger 39 inwardly and into engagement with the contact 25 for completing an electric circuit through the magnet It], the magnet being grounded at one side, Magnet It] being thus energized dog H moves inwardly with the armature of the magnet to rotate the ratchet wheel 8 the distance of one tooth on the ratchet wheel whereby shaft 6 is rotated a fraction of a revolution for bringing the proper number on the proper numeral-disk 1 into position opposite the sight window in the casing of the register 5 so that one by reading the register 5 will tell at a glance the total number of knots the vesselhas thus far travelled.

It will also be apparent that the electric cable consisting of the wire 26 and sheeting 21 may serve as at raising and lowering cable for the carriage l3, and as suggested in Figure 5 said cable is trained through suitable guides 45 provided therefor on the side of the vessel. In this connection, and as shown in Figure 2, a portion of the cable will be suitably connected withor secured to the carriage l3 so that an upward pull on the cable will serve to cause the carriage l3, bracket I5 and associated parts to move upwardly along the rails l2.

Obviously to lower the carriage I3 and associated parts cable '21 is paid out and the carriage I3 and associated parts move downwardly by gravity along the rails I2 to the desired position, and to a position effective for a proper operation of the device.

Obviously with the carriage and associated parts in properly lowered position rotor ll revolves turning shaft l6 therewith. Drive from shaft I6 is transmitted through the worm l8 and worm Wheel 22 to shaft 26 and from shaft 25 to the gearing 23 to shaft 2i. Obviously, as shaft 2| revolves cam 44 operates to intermittently raise the lever 42 resulting in an engagement of contact 39 with contact 25 for completing the circuit through the electro-magnet It to operate the registering device 5 in the manner hereinoefore explained more in detail. In this connection it may be mentioned that the gear ratio will be such that for each tenth of a knot switch 24 is closed for operating the register 5.

Register 5 may be, as suggested in Figure 1, suitably located in the pilots room, on the bridge of the vessel, or wherever found desirable, and to be read by any officer or authorized person. Also in the present instance a train of five number wheels is shown on the register 5 giving a capacity for registering up to one hundred thousand miles without resetting.

It is thought that a clear understanding of the construction, utility and advantages of an invention of this character will be had without a more detailed description.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is-- I A switch for a distance registering device comprising a cylindrical housing having opposite ends thereof externally screw threaded, caps threaded on said ends of the housing, a partition formed in the housing and dividing the latter into first and second-named chambers closed by said caps, a movable contact slidable through said partition and one of the caps and having one end located in the first-named chamber and its opposite end arranged exteriorly of the housing to be engaged by an operating medium, a coil spring acting on said contact to urge the latter to engage the operating medium and located in the second-named chamber, an insulator mounted within the firstnamed chamber and held seated against the partition by one of said caps, a fork type contact mounted in the insulator to be engaged by the movable contact, a screw threaded extension formed on the last-named cap and having a bore to receive an electric conductor for connection with said fork type contact and adapted to extend through an opening of a supporting carriage with the latter-named cap engaging the carriage, a nut threaded on the extension against the carriage for cooperating with the latter-named cap in securing the extension to the carriage, and a packing cap threaded on the extension to establish a leak-proof connection between the extension and the conductor.

LEWIS H. CUTTING. 

